Before deregulation kicked off in Texas circa 1995, the generation, transmission and distribution, and retail sales of electricity were all provided by one utility company. Oh how times have changed. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) now regulates the transmission and distribution, so the delivery of your electricity through poles and wires is not handled by your energy company.

Confusing yet? It's actually quite simple. Generation—the production of electricity—was the first aspect of electricity in Texas to become deregulated, providing you and other energy consumers with a ton of options for clean, affordable electricity.

Now comes the final piece of the deregulation puzzle. Electricity companies are responsible for selling electricity to consumers, and providing customer service options to help you manage your monthly bill. Enter competition: Companies benefit from competition, as it opens up additional service areas that before were regulated to a specific utility, and you benefit from lower prices and special products that are a direct result of said competition. It's a reciprocal relationship. Companies compete for your business, and in turn you receive incentives that help you save on your electricity bill.

Even better is the fact that with all of this utility competition, the PUC still protects you from fraudulent or non-competitive business practices, ensuring that your electricity service is reliable, safe and affordable.

One last thing: The only stipulation to Texas electricity deregulation, is that the PUC has yet to open all areas in Texas to competition—mainly due to the ongoing development and organization of the electricity markets in those areas. Fortunately, the PUC offers a deregulation service map as well as the ability to enter your zip code and find out if your area is fully deregulated. Find out today if electricity competition is available in your area, and which company has the flexible rate plans and products that provide you the safest and most reliable electricity service.